Troy University

Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor of Troy University, has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Armed Forces Merit Award presented annually by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).

Coordinated by the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl staff, the Armed Forces Merit Award was created in 2012 “to honor an individual and/or group with a military background or involvement that has an impact in college football.”

Dr. Hawkins was announced as the recipient today during a midday sports center on ESPN, after being selected from a group of six finalists by a committee of seven FWAA members and two representatives from the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. Dr. Hawkins was interviewed while visiting university partners in Vietnam. In 2008, TROY became the first US university to award a baccalaureate degree in that country. Today, the university enrolls more than 1,000 students and has graduated more than 1,500 alumni in Vietnam

“I am completely humbled to receive this award,” said Dr. Hawkins. “It was a great honor to serve our country. I know that freedom is not free and I have great appreciation for those who serve and have served. For myself to be named for an award like this is an honor and extremely humbling Serving our country was a wonderful experience for me.There were definitely challenges, but I got much more out of that experience than I gave.

Troy University’s service to the military spans more than 75 years. Under Dr. Under Hawkins’ leadership, this commitment has continued to grow through initiatives such as the TROY for Troops Center, which was created to meet the needs unique to the military-connected student, and the Military and Family Scholarship for active military or reserves and their spouses or dependents children. Most recently, the university announced today the establishment of a 10 percent tuition scholarship for all veterans and their families.

TROY is consistently recognized as a premier institution for members of the military and veterans by such publications as US News and World Report, GI Jobs, Military Times Edge, Advanced Military Education and more.

Dr. Hawkins is a member of the College Football Playoffs’ Board of Managers representing the Sun Belt Conference and has been chancellor of Troy University since September 1, 1989, making him the longest-serving CEO of a public university in the nation.

After completing his bachelor’s degree in 1967 from the University of Montevallo, Hawkins was commissioned a lieutenant in the US Marine Corps and served as a platoon leader during the Vietnam War. He received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and a citation from the Korean Marine Corps for his combat duty.

Troy University Director of Athletics Brent Jones said Troy University is a leader in service to the military because of Dr. Hawkins’ visionary leadership.

“Dr. Hawkins has devoted his entire adult life to serving the people of the United States Armed Forces, first as a lieutenant and platoon leader in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and then as an advocate for our military members and their families during his professional career as a higher education administrator ,” Jones said. “Because of Dr. Hawkins’ visionary leadership, Troy University has an exemplary relationship with the United States Armed Forces and is a leader nationally in providing educational opportunities for our service members. On behalf of Troy Athletics, our fans, our staff and our student-athletes , I congratulate Dr. Hawkins on this well-deserved recognition for his lifelong dedication to our military.”

Brant Ringler, executive director of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, and Andrea Adelson, 2024 FWAA president and ESPN.com national college football reporter, congratulated Dr. Hawkins as the 2024 recipient of the Armed Forces Merit Award presented by the FWAA.

“From the first time I met Dr. Hawkins at a conference, I was impressed by his credentials and felt he was a worthy nominee for the award,” Ringler said. “Dr. Hawkins is a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient. He oversaw his school’s transition in the early 1990s to Division I competition. He continues to serve on the College Football Playoff’s board of directors.”

Adelson added, “In this time of changing dynamics in intercollegiate sports, Dr. Hawkins’ experienced leadership with all aspects of higher education has proven invaluable. He is the longest-serving CEO of a public university in the United States, making his voice, thoughts and perspective are invaluable as we move forward in a new landscape for college football and all intercollegiate athletics.”

Former Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson, who served in the role from 2012-2019, said Dr. Hawkins was a fitting recipient for the award.

“Jack Hawkins epitomizes this award with his years of commitment and dedication to higher education, the military and the sport of football,” Benson said. “As commissioner of three FBS conferences over the past 30 years, I’ve worked with 50 universities, over 70 presidents and chancellors. When asked if I had a favorite, I was quick to say it was easy – Jack Hawkins .”

Past recipients of the Armed Forces Merit Award presented by the FWAA include Nate Boyer of the University of Texas (2012), Brandon McCoy of the University of North Texas (2013), Daniel Rodriguez of Clemson University (2014), Bret Robertson of Westminster College (Fulton, Mo ., 2015), Steven Rhodes of Middle Tennessee State University (2016), Dr. Chris Howard of Robert Morris University (2018), Army West Point assistant coach Mike Viti (2019), Collin O’Donnell of Bluefield College of Virginia (2020), Damien Jackson of the University of Nebraska (2021), Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation (2022) and Tyler Huff (2023).